Chapter 29: A Surprise from the Su Family

The Thunder-Fire Scroll, the primary offensive component of the North Cang Sword Art, is far more than just a means of overwhelming opponents with sheer force. Much like the Drifting Snow Sword Art that Su Xin previously practiced—which contained the 'Snow-Slaying Form' as a specialized technique—the Thunder-Fire Scroll holds four profound secret arts. However, even the first of these profound techniques requires one to have mastered the scroll to at least a minor success stage before it can be grasped.

Although Su Xin possesses extraordinary talent, he had only been studying the Thunder-Fire Scroll for a little over a month. While he had mastered the basic 'form,' he was still slightly short of the minor success stage. Yet, unexpectedly, during his battle today against the three peak Sea-Transformation stage experts from the Pang family, the surge of boundless rage and killing intent pushed his swordsmanship to a new level. He comprehended the first profound secret art of the Thunder-Fire Scroll on the spot and unleashed it in one fluid motion.

Boom!

Sword intent erupted. A terrifying sword shadow appeared, seemingly capable of cleaving the heavens and destroying the earth. The three men, who had been struggling to hold their ground against Su Xin’s sword, turned deathly pale the moment they saw that horrific shadow.

"No!"
"It's over!"

The three wailed in their hearts. The power of this sword shadow completely exceeded their capacity to resist. No matter how hard they tried to defend, the sword shadow ruthlessly crushed over them, completely engulfing their figures. Under the impact of its power, every bone in their bodies shattered into pieces. In a single stroke, three peak Sea-Transformation experts were killed instantly.

"This..."

Second Elder Su Tietong, who had been standing on the eaves, watched as Su Xin single-handedly suppressed the three and then unleashed the profound secret art to slay them. Su Tietong was utterly stunned.

...

Whoosh!

A figure suddenly appeared on the eaves. It was Great Elder Su Boyong, who had rushed over immediately after receiving the distress signal. Arriving at the scene, he saw several wounds on Su Tietong, though none were fatal, and Su Xin standing nearby. As for the three peak Sea-Transformation experts from the Pang family who were supposed to be besieging Su Tietong, they were already dead.

"What happened?"
"How did these three Pang family experts die? Second Elder, did you kill them?"

With only Su Tietong present as a peak Sea-Transformation expert, Su Boyong subconsciously assumed he was the one responsible.

"It wasn't me," Su Tietong shook his head. "It was Su Xin."
"What?" Su Boyong was taken aback.
"Elders, let’s return and discuss this later," Su Xin suggested.

Su Boyong nodded. After briefly tending to Su Tietong’s wounds, the three immediately returned to the Su residence.

However, although the battle broke out in a dark alley, the commotion was significant and had long since attracted spectators. They had witnessed Su Xin kill the three Pang family members with their own eyes. Once Su Xin and the others left, the alley erupted into a frenzy.

"Did you see that? The three from the Pang family were all peak Sea-Transformation experts, yet they were swept away by a single young disciple of the Su family with one sword stroke?"
"That disciple from the Su family is clearly only at the minor Sea-Transformation stage."
"A minor Sea-Transformation cultivation suppressing and killing three peak experts? Simply incredible!"
"I recognize that disciple; he is Su Xin, the young master of the Su family!"

The air was filled with astonishment and shock. It was easy to imagine that before long, the news of this battle and the name of Su Xin would spread throughout Yongning County.

...

In the main hall of the Su family, Patriarch Su Baichen, the three elders, and other high-ranking members of the Su family—those with seniority, strength, and, most importantly, absolute loyalty—were gathered.

Su Tietong’s wounds had been treated and he had taken medicinal pills, so his complexion had improved significantly.

"I’ve had a narrow escape this time. If not for Su Xin arriving in time, I would have likely died at the hands of those three," Su Tietong remarked.
"To think the Pang family endured for so many days, only to strike directly at you, Second Elder," one of the elders noted. "It seems they know that as long as the Void-Breaking stage experts don't emerge, you are the Su family’s primary general. Killing you would be a massive blow to us."

"Enough," Su Boyong interrupted. "Let’s set aside the matter of the Second Elder for a moment. There is something else we must discuss."

The hall went quiet. Everyone’s gaze turned involuntarily toward the young figure sitting in the corner: Su Xin. The high-ranking members had just learned from the Second Elder that Su Xin had not only saved him but had single-handedly killed the three peak experts. A minor Sea-Transformation cultivator killing three peak experts? Everyone found it unfathomable. If not for Su Tietong’s repeated confirmation and the reports from the alley, they would never have believed it.

"It is too incredible," Su Boyong sighed. "While we knew you had great talent and exceptional swordsmanship—and had even grasped an artistic conception—those were peak Sea-Transformation experts, three levels above you. To bridge such a gap in raw power is impossible through technique alone, unless..."

Su Boyong narrowed his eyes, looking at Su Xin with gravity. "Su Xin, tell us honestly, have you awakened your bloodline?"

The high-ranking members of the Su family all turned their attention to him.

"Yes," Su Xin nodded, admitting it directly. He knew that as his strength was exposed, his status as a bloodline awakener could no longer be hidden. In the True Martial stage, gaps in cultivation could be bridged by techniques, but in the Sea-Transformation stage, the power gap between levels was immense. Only those with heaven-defying luck or legendary bloodline awakenings could cross three levels to kill an opponent.

"As I thought!" Su Boyong’s eyes lit up, and the others showed expressions of pleasant surprise. A bloodline awakener is a special existence born only once in tens of millions. Every one of them is gifted with infinite potential. During the three years of the Su family's decline, they had dreamed of a true genius appearing, and now, one had emerged.

"Su Xin, what grade is your awakened bloodline?" Su Boyong asked.
"Second grade," Su Xin replied. This was something he had already decided upon. A second-grade bloodline was neither too high nor too low; it was enough to explain his ability to challenge those above his rank without attracting too much unwanted attention. In the Tianyan Dynasty, while bloodline awakeners were rare, they appeared every few decades, and second-grade bloodlines were common enough.

"A second-grade bloodline!" The Su family elders were overjoyed. To them, a second-grade bloodline was already very impressive. Only Patriarch Su Baichen, sitting in the main seat, cast a slightly strange look at Su Xin. *Second grade? Is it really just second grade?* he wondered, though he did not press the issue.

"There is one more thing I must tell you all," Su Xin said, sweeping his gaze across the room. "Today, I went to the Red Dragon Tower and cleared the first level of the Dragon-Seeking Tower!"

"What?" The hall was filled with gasps of shock.

"The first level of the Dragon-Seeking Tower?"
"That legendary tower that only the most elite peak Sea-Transformation experts can clear?"

Everyone was stunned. Second Elder Su Tietong stared at Su Xin, wide-eyed. He was a peak Sea-Transformation expert himself, and a strong one at that. Years ago, he had attempted to clear the tower and was defeated by the guardian in moments. He knew exactly how difficult it was. Yet, this youth of eighteen or nineteen, a younger member of his own family, had already done it?

"No wonder, no wonder he could kill those three," Su Tietong sighed. "A warrior capable of clearing the first level of the Dragon-Seeking Tower could likely crush four or five peak Sea-Transformation experts simultaneously."

"Furthermore," Su Xin dropped another bombshell, "after I cleared the first level, Supervisor Yuan Qing of the Red Dragon Tower told me that the guardian of the tower was quite impressed with my talent. He is willing to personally travel to the Tianyan Palace to recommend me. There is a high probability that I will receive a special recruitment quota."

"Tianyan Palace?"
"A special recruitment quota?"

The Su family leaders were dumbfounded. Even Su Baichen could not help but lean forward.

"Xin'er, is this true?" Su Baichen asked.
"Yes," Su Xin nodded firmly.

"Haha!" Su Baichen laughed, his face filled with genuine joy. "I have heard of that guardian. He is a top-tier powerhouse in the Red Dragon Tower whose cultivation has long reached the Nirvana stage—a pinnacle figure in the entire Tianyan Dynasty! If he personally recommends you, the Tianyan Palace will not slight him. This means the quota is almost certainly yours!"

Su Xin smiled, while the rest of the Su family members were ecstatic. For years, ever since the death of their Nirvana-stage ancestor, the Su family had lived under a dark cloud. Internal factions led by Zhao Tianlei had threatened to usurp them, while the Pang family waited to devour them, and the looming crisis from the top-tier Situ family hung over their heads like a mountain.

The discovery that Su Xin had a high probability of entering the Tianyan Palace changed everything. If Su Xin became a disciple of the Tianyan Palace, even the powerful Situ family would not dare to act against the Su family openly. Their burdens would be lifted, and their crisis would be greatly alleviated.

"Alright," Su Baichen waved his hand, signaling for calm. "While Xin'er having the opportunity to become a disciple of the Tianyan Palace is a great joy, until the special envoy arrives, anything can happen. We must not let our guard down."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"From today on, cease all retaliation against the Pang family," Su Baichen ordered.
"Cease retaliation?" Su Tietong frowned. "Patriarch, it is easy for us to stop, but the Pang family has lost three peak experts. They know Su Xin is responsible and will surely become even more crazed."
"Ignore their madness," Su Baichen said indifferently. "To avoid unnecessary losses, from today, all Su family members are to remain within the residence. Do not leave without a special reason."

"Understood," they replied.

As long as the Su family stayed inside, the Pang family's rage would be futile. Unless they dared to charge into the Su residence for a full-scale war, they would have to wait. Once the envoy arrived and Su Xin’s status was confirmed, the Su family would no longer need to fear the Pang family.

*I hope everything goes smoothly,* Su Baichen thought to himself. Despite the good news, as he watched his elders celebrating, a faint sense of unease lingered in his heart.